Cougars advance to 4th straight final

Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Jenny Snook (1) celebrates with Hannah Plagman (11) and Jade Grimm (9) after scoring the Cougars' first goal in a 2-0 win over Ankeny in a Class 2A semifinal at the girls' state soccer tournament Friday at Muscatine. (Photo by Brian Ray)

MUSCATINE – One more chance. And probably the best chance yet.

Top-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy advanced to the championship game for the fourth straight season, handling No. 4 Ankeny, 2-0, in a Class 2A semifinal at the girls’ state soccer tournament Friday night at the Muscatine Soccer Complex.

42nd Street soccer monopoly?

This is a common scene at the Muscatine Soccer Complex, the Xavier Saints celebrating a Class 1A championship. They pursue their fourth in a row, beginning Thursday. (Gazette photo)

They’re both ranked No. 1, and they’re both favored to bring championships home to 42nd Street NE.

But the similarities end there for the girls’ soccer teams from Cedar Rapids Xavier and Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

Cougars kick it in late

Hannah Palomo jumps into the arms of teammate Katherine Lewis after scoring one of her two second-half goals in Cedar Rapids Kennedy's 4-1 win over Cedar Rapids Washington in a Class 2A girls' regional soccer match Monday at Kennedy. (Photo by Chris Macklin)

CEDAR RAPIDS — Domination on the field was immediate.

Domination on the scoreboard, that took a while.

Warriors chase a major upset

Candice Kiernan (middle) and Cedar Rapids Jefferson maneuvered past Linn-Mar in a regional semifinal last week. Monday, the J-Hawks will try to get past North Scott. (Photo by Cliff Jette)

Cedar Rapids Washington already has exceeded all expectations in girls’ soccer this season.

“We’ve overachieved,” said Coach Kerry Brimmo.

A win Monday would be the ultimate capper. And a major upset.

All-Metro boys track

Here is the first team:

All-Metro girls track

Here is the first team:

Cougars well-represented at state

CEDAR RAPIDS — One in singles. Two doubles teams. A berth in the state team tournament for the seventh time this decade.

Yeah, it’s a typical spring for the Cedar Rapids Kennedy girls’ tennis team.

Typically brilliant.

Saints open postseason Tuesday

Cedar Rapids Xavier begins its quest for a fourth consecutive girls’ Class 1A state soccer championship Tuesday.

Mozena, leg cramps take down White

CEDAR RAPIDS — Nick Mozena wasn’t in the mood for sympathy.

Not with the semifinals in sight.

Mozena, a senior from Dubuque Senior, blew a 5-2 second-set lead in the quarterfinals, then outlasted a cramp-wracked Joey White of Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, in Friday’s biggest upset at the Class 2A boys’ tennis tournament at Veterans Memorial Tennis Center.

Cougars, Saints end at No. 1

Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Cedar Rapids Xavier are ranked No. 1 in the final girls’ soccer rankings of the season.